Structural framework



March 5, 1929. BADEL 1,704,275

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK Filed Oct. 28, 1927 IN V EN TOR. Jules 1 001's Bade/ A TTOR NE Y.

Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULES LOUIS BADEL, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK;

Application filed October 28, 1927, Serial No. 229,462, and in BelgiumKovember 3, 1926.

My invention pertains to building constructions, and more particularlyto supporting frame work therefor.

It is one object of my invention to provide a S supporting frame forbuilding construction that will permit of rapidity of erection withgreat strength and at a reduced cost over previous methods ofconstruction.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a system of supportingframe work of sullicient lateral strength that no intermediate supportswill benecessary even for great spansfar in excess of that which ispossible by present known methods of frame work construct-ion.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a system offrame work construction that will permit of the building of varyingsized structures, there being but four different sized pieces of frameregardless of the size of the structure.

Briefly, the framing comprises a series of rectangles formed byoverlapping long pieces, shorter joint covering pieces, spacing membersforming sides of the rectangles and cross braces. The longer pieces abutend to end and overlap so that the bolts that hold the assembly togetherpass through the respective ends of the joint and the center of an adacent piece. For additional strength, the open joint may be covered by ashorter joint-covering piece held by the same bolts. bpaclng members maybe secured in any well knownmanncr between the above-describedassemblies, but strength will be added to the structure it the spacingmembers abut against the ends oi the cover joint pieces. However, withthis arrangement, every other rectangle will be without a means forbracing the structure against lateral stresses. Accordingly, in

, every other rectangle placed an ordinary crossbrace,tl1e membersextending diagonally from one corner to the other. As a further meansfor strengthening the structure, long tie bolts maybe provided extendingfrom one of the assemblies to the other, and preferably passing throughthose rectangles in which the cross braces are located.

Other objects of my invention will be un derstood from the accompanyingspecification and drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a front sectional elevation of my invention as applied to aroof, such as an aviation hangar, parts being broken away to :lacilitateillustration, and

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

, Referring to the drawings, the framework is constituted by fourelements cut to respective size to form arectangle and the lar size ofstructure is accomplished y mere duplication of the rectangle. The sizeof the rectangles and therefore the size of the four pieces isn'edetermiued in accordance with the stresses and strainswhich theparticular structure to withstand, it being the intent of this inventiontoprovide a structure wl1erein no bracing members areprovided at anangle thereto. i a

One of the rectangles is formed by walls a, b, c and 0!. Walls 6 and (Iextend beyond the walls a and 0, as shown at e, f, g and h. The portions6 and g abut against pieces 0' and g and the ends f and h abutagainstthe pieces f and h respectively. The pieces 6, f, g and h areexactly similar in size and length to the pieces I) and (1. Thus, thenext adjacent rectangle to that formed by the walls a, b, e and (Z isformed by the portions 0, e, g, 9, re-

spectively and a sidewall Z similar to the pieces a and c. a M

Overlapping the joint between the pieces 6 and e is a second strip dsimilar in size and length to the piece d. Thus the joint 6, e oc} oursin the center of thepiece This ar rangement is true of eachpf thejoints. Ac cordingly, when bolts or other securingmeans in join togetherthe pieces (Z and d great strength is obtained by this overlapping ofjoints. This same arrangement occurs between joint g and y where strip7f overlaps this joint. a l

One of the joints is always left exposed in diagonally oppositerectangles and, these joints are covered by short pieces or strips anwhich are of a dillerent length than tliepieees a and I. but are adaptedto abut thereagainst Eart cuso as to give increased rigidityagainstlateral stressesto this particular rectangle.

In the rectangles which are not braced by the strips m are cross bracesformed by strips 2? and j which extend diagonallyfrom thecorner formedby the pieces a, (Z to the corner formed by the pieces I), 0. Thus,every rec tangle is braced against lateral stresses, and all joints arewell protected. j

The cross braces a l-and j and the spacing strips (1, c and Z aresecured in place by any well known means.

As a further means of strengthening the structure, tie bolts it may beused, between the horizontal extending assemblies of pieces 03 and d 6and b respectively. The tie bolts preferably extend through therectangles containing the cross braces 2', and thus allparts oi theassembly get full benefit of the result of using the tie bolts, sincethey pass through the pieces 5, 5 (Z, (Z and the respective jointcovering pieces m. It has been found sulficient to merely add two tiebelts in each rectangle containing a cross brace.

It is immaterial whether the pieces out of which thisstructure isformedare made.

of metal or of wood, and whether the securing members are belts orrivets. The same rigidity of construction is obtained.

If the structure is to be arched such as the roof of an aviation hangarwould be, the ends of the pieces (Z and 7) would be cut at an anglewhich would be a radius of the partieulararc to be used in theconstruction so that the ends of the pieces would abut throughout theirlengths and not at ust one point tlvreon. If desired, the ends a and cof each piece d or b may be tapered slightly as indicated in Figure 1.Also, if desired, the upper edge of the piece (Z and Z) may be cut onthe same curve as the are of the support, as indicated at 0, but with aplurality of relatively small pieces, this is not essential.

Modifications may be made in the arran ment and location of parts withinthe spirit and scope of my invention, and such modi ficationsareintended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Structural frame work comprising a plurality of assembled stripsextending in one direction, each strip comprising a pinrality 0tabutting and overlapping pieces so arranged that the joint betweenabutting ends occurs substantially at the center of the overlappingpiece, additional pieces for covering the exposed joints betweenabutting ends, means extending through said pieces tor securing the sametogether, and spacing members secured between the a sembled strips andadapted to abut against the endsot the oint covering iieces.

Structural frame work comprising a plurality of assembled stripsextending in one direction, each strip comprising a plurality ofabutting and overlapping pieces so arranged that the joint betweenabutting ends occurs substantially at the center of the overlappingpiece, spacing members secured between the assembled strips so as toform a plurality of rectangular caissons and X-- each strip comprising aplurality'of abutting and overlapping pieces so arranged that the jointbetween abutting ends occurs substan tially at the center of theoverlapping piece, additional pieces for covering the exposed jointsbetween abutting ends, means extend ing through said pieces for securingthe same together, and spacing members secured between the assembledstrips and adapted to abut against the ends of the joint covering piecesso as to form a plurality of rectangular caissons and cross bracessecured in said rectangles on the opposite side of the spac- :ing memberfrom that abutting against the joint covering pieces.

l. A frame work comprising a plurality of assembled strips'extending inone direction, each strip comprising a plurality of abutting andoverlapping pieces so arranger that the joint between abutting endsoccurs substantially at the center of the overlapping piece, additionalpieces for covering the exposed joints between abutting ends, meansextending through said pieces for securing th same together, spacingmembers secured between the assembled strips and adapted to abut againsttheends of the joint covering pieces, so as to term a pluralityoifrectangles, cross braces located in the rectangles that do not containthe joint covering pieces, and tie bolts extending between the assembledportions and parallel to the spacing stri is. i

5. Structural frame work comprising a plurality of assembled stripsextending in one direction, each strip comprising a plurality ofabutting and overlapping pieces so arranged that the joint betweenabutting ends occurs substantially at the center of the overlappingpiece, each of said pieces being o't much greater length than depth,spaeir members between said. strips, alternately arranged late ii bracesbetween said spacing members, and securing means for said strips,spacing members and braces, that all stresses and strains aretrans]nitted laterally through the frame work. I

6. Structural frame work adapted to have too term of an arch withoutupright braces, said frame work comprising a plurality of assembledstrips extending in one direction, each strip comprising a plurality oiabutting and overlapping pieces, each of said pieces being of muchgreater length than depth and having one or the longer edges shaped onthe arc of the particular arch to be to med, and the ends of saidpiecesbeing cut on a radius of said are, means for securing said piecestogether and spacing members secured between the assembledstrips.

In testimony whereof I utlii; my signature.

JULns LOUIS BADEL.

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